MY COUNTRY'S REQUEST

By -


MY COUNTRY'S REQUEST



Powerful poem cover illustrating injustice in Nigeria, featuring a tearful face wrapped in the national flag, protest imagery, blood-stained justice scales, and a bounty sign symbolizing violence, silence, and the cost of truth


Herod!

Even Herod has desire the head of John


A mouth-watering bounty has he offered,

Even the double of the figure is not

Enough an offer to secure the field of blood.


We have brothers out there

Called the “prodigal sons”

Men whose hands are stained, yet called our own

Even such great resources cannot bring them back home

Yet the same wealth is set aside

To reward the fall of the righteous

For the head of John


I know a fool is wandering, searching

Even for John himself

Not for him though, but for his head

He wants to win the bountiful bounty

All thanks to my country who can keep mute.


To Deborah "the second"

Who keeps the neck that holds the head,

Bravo!

Think not about the first

For life isn't the one that ends when breath seizes.

Perhaps, it could be Cyrene Joseph

Blessed hart thou for feeling the weight of the cross

Anyway, thanks to my country for keeping mute.


How costly is this head,

Even the unseen head!

How troubling it is for him who has agreed to search!

How worrying it is for him who is willing to pay!

How blessed it is for him who keeps the head!

How consequential it is for my country who keeps mute




 AUTHOR’S NOTE

This poem is a response to the realities unfolding in Nigeria: a nation rich in culture, diversity, and resilience, yet burdened by insecurity, violence, and a troubling pattern of silence from those entrusted with power.

It is inspired by moments where: Human life appears negotiable; Violence is justified, excused, or ignored; Justice is delayed, or completely absent; And those who speak truth become targets

This is not merely a poem, it is a reflection of pain, confusion, and a pressing question: What happens when a nation refuses to speak?


THEME

At its core, 'My Country’s Request' explores silence as complicity.

The poem expands into several interconnected themes as follows:

  • The commercialization of violence: placing value on human life
  • Moral inversion: where the guilty are defended, and the righteous are hunted
  • Institutional silence: failure of leadership and authority
  • Distorted justice: where priorities are misplaced
  • The burden of awareness: knowing truth but being unable to act

The poem ultimately argues that the greatest danger is not violence alone, but a system that allows it to exist without consequence.


CONTENT SUMMARY

The poem opens with a powerful biblical allusion: the desire for “the head of John.” This immediately frames truth as something under threat, something that power does not just reject, but seeks to eliminate.

A bounty is introduced, symbolizing a society where violence becomes transactional. Human life is reduced to a reward system. Yet, the poet makes it clear that no amount of money can justify the irreversible damage described as a “field of blood.”

The poem then shifts into one of its most critical ideas: Those who commit violence are described as “brothers” and “prodigal sons.”

This reflects a troubling reality where perpetrators of harm are humanized and excused, while victims are forgotten. It also introduces a deeper contradiction: Resources that could be used to restore peace are instead redirected toward destruction.

In other words: If such wealth exists, why is it not used to stop violence instead of rewarding it? The poem continues by presenting opportunistic individuals not driven by belief, but by gain. They seek not truth, but the reward attached to destroying it.

Repeatedly, one truth echoes: The country remains silent.

The later stanzas introduce symbolic figures of responsibility and sacrifice, suggesting that some individuals still carry burdens and uphold values, but they do so within a system that refuses to act.

The final stanza becomes reflective and confrontational, asking:

  • What is the cost of truth?
  • Who suffers?
  • Who benefits?
  • And what is the consequence of silence?


LITERARY DEVICES

Allusion


The poem draws heavily from biblical narratives to universalize its message:

Herod: Representing corrupt authority.

John: Representing truth and righteousness.

Prodigal son: Representing wayward individuals capable of redemption.

Cross: Representing suffering and sacrifice.

These references elevate the poem beyond a single location, making it morally and globally relevant.


  Symbolism

 “The head of John”:  truth, justice, and those who dare to speak

 “Bounty”: corruption, misplaced priorities, and incentivized violence

 “Field of blood”: irreversible destruction and moral decay

 “Prodigal sons”: perpetrators who are excused rather than corrected

“The cross”: burden, sacrifice, and responsibility

 “My country”: authority, governance, and institutional power

 “Mute”: silence as failure, not neutrality


 Repetition

“My country… keeps mute”

This repetition is deliberate and powerful. It transforms silence into a character of its own, consistent, present, and deeply troubling.


 Irony

The poem is filled with painful contradictions: Those who harm are defended as “brothers”; those who speak truth are hunted; wealth exists, but is used destructively; authority exists, but remains inactive.


 Rhetorical Questions

The final stanza uses questioning not to seek answers, but to demand accountability. It invites the reader into the moral tension of the poem.


 TONE & MOOD

Tone

  • Reflective yet accusatory
  • Lamenting but controlled
  • Urgent without being chaotic

Mood

  • Heavy
  • Disturbing
  • Emotionally intense

The poem does not aim to comfort, the aim is to awaken.


STRUCTURE

The poem follows a deliberate progression:

1. Introduction of injustice (desire for John’s head).

2. Normalization of violence (bounty).

3. Misplaced compassion (prodigal sons).

4. Rise of opportunism (search for reward).

5. Burden and sacrifice (symbolic figures).

6. Consequences and reflection (final questions).

This mirrors real societal patterns which follow this: Event-Justification-Participation- Silence-Consequence.


KEY LINES EXPLAINED

“We have brothers out there… called the prodigal sons”. This line reflects a painful contradiction. Those responsible for violence are: Recognized, Identified, and yet still,  described with familiarity and sympathy.

The term “prodigal sons” suggests they can return, but raises a deeper issue: If they can be restored, why is more effort not invested in stopping them than in rewarding destruction?

“Even such great resources cannot bring them back home”. This exposes a failure of priorities. That's to say: resources exist, but are not used effectively for peace, reconciliation, or protection.

“Yet the same wealth is set aside… for the head of John”: this is one of the strongest criticisms in the poem. It questions: Why is money available for harm, but not effectively used for prevention or restoration?

“Not for him… but for his head”. Truth itself is not the interest, that's not why they are looking for John, the reward tied to his destruction is(the bounty: a whopping Two Million Naira).

"All thanks to my country who can keep mute”, this line carries restrained anger. It suggests: Silence is not accidental, Silence is sustained, Silence enables everything.

“How costly is this head… even the unseen head”. Not all victims are visible. Some suffer: without recognition, without justice, without voice.

"How consequential it is for my country that keeps mute”, this is not just an observation, it is a warning. Silence has consequences: Social, Moral, Historical, etc.


REFLECTION 

My Country’s Request is a powerful meditation on justice, silence, and responsibility. It presents a society where: Truth is endangered, violence is normalized, authority is quiet, and citizens are left to interpret their reality.

But beyond all this, the poem delivers one central truth: " Silence is not passive, it is participation, it's an agreement".

The poem challenges both leadership and citizens to reflect: What is being protected, what is being ignored, and at what cost?


 REFLECTION QUESTIONS/CONTRIBUTIONS

  • What does “the head of John” represent in today’s society?
  • When violence is known but unaddressed, who is responsible?
  • Can silence ever be justified in the face of injustice?
  • Why are resources sometimes used destructively rather than constructively?
  • What role should citizens play when institutions fail?
  • What is the long-term cost of ignoring the truth?

What does this poem mean to you? Share your thoughts in the comments.


Read also: OTHER SIDE OF POLITICS 


I recently published a piece titled: THE HOMAGE. Get it here

Welcome to SoulFlame Magazine(A brand of Soulflame Media and ICT Venture). I am E. L. Teddy, a graduate of Public Administration - Heritage Polytechnic. I love intellectual pieces and creativity, which prompted me to start Soulflame Magazine: a place where thought meets feeling. Here, we reflect on life’s moral choices, human nature, and personal growth — not just through analysis, but through poetry that speaks to the soul. Every verse tells a truth, every line asks a question. Thanks for supporting my/our growth.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NEVER GO SO SLOW

By -
Image
  NEVER GO SO SLOW There is no comfort in Rope So let me find it in Nail Never go so slow sincere executioner! But speedily. So I sleep so soon and not in pain. Tell me, oh Learned Man! Do I have the right to tell how it should go? If this you must grant me and again none, Then I shall die smiling, for even in my adversary, so much love prevails. Oh! How much they are who wait to hear me speak in the dark But I disappointed them, I never spoke dark speech even in the dark And today, here I stand in the light to suffer for the truth. I’m in for it! Only let me tell you how it should be. So speedily without pain, not with a rope but a Nail from Kalashnikov. CONTENT/POETIC ANALYSIS I just want to remind us today that we don’t own this world, so we shouldn't carry it on our heads. We are only a player: "All the world's a stage, and all men and women merely players" — William Shakespeare's(As You Like It). I won’t really spend much time analyzing the poetic ingredients...
Read more

BOOTIES OF WAR

By -
Image
BOOTIES OF WAR Away a step from the scene Where a baby mourned her mum who lived no more It's painful, for us who wept, found no comforter. And those who did, took not his advice. For their fate was controlled by the stream of endless ocean That sprang the baby's eye  Who took no suck if not from mum Who exists no more. Back from the scene For you shall behold and sleep no more. There lies a river that sustains canals That flows to an ocean which gives Wave to no ship of merchandise. What ended him was the edge of a sword Pierce into the soul. All she labored for was her  vessel of honor, Who now, is to men Of valor a booty of war. Toasted like vow wine, prepared just for the master's use. Keep that sword! Or shall you again race while your mother lame? I know! Always had it been in the blood to spill. And yet, there be no Napoleon Who will show, only to behold it conquered. Those who've seen it take it, a film. Those who have heard it, a story. And those who've exp...
Read more

Majority and Right.

By -
Image
 " If I had to give young writers advice, I'd say don't listen to writers talking about writing" - Lilian Hellman Addressing young writers, Lilian Hellman aired her opinion in what seems to be a young writers' want-to-hear statement (i.e., what should I do as a young writer who wants to succeed in my writing career?). Well, she did justice. Hellmann's piece of advice doesn't apply to writing; it could be applied to all facets of human endeavor/profession. Could one ever say that Hellman was ignorant of the fact and need for young writers to seek advice regarding their pursuits in life which may likely help them? No. Hellman understood that some of these advice poses great fear and disbelief in oneself. Sometimes those you seek advice from kills the to-do and to-be spirit in you, or still, inject in you something that will always question every progressive steps you take. Some years ago(when I wanted entering the university), I went and seek advice from som...
Read more